Mary Novelo gets parents involved at school

Mary Novelo gets some hugs from Pro-Youth HEART children at Houston Elementary School. Although she works part-time at the school as a liaison between the school and parents, she puts in extra time with monthly movie or bingo nights and community service projects such as Make A Difference Day.
(Photo11:
Teresa Douglass
)

Mary Novelo goes above and beyond the call of duty at Houston Elementary School where she works part-time as a student advocacy and family engagement technician.

Teachers credit her for getting parents involved in their children's education, said Mary Secondo, a first-grade teacher.

"Parents didn't know how important they were until Mary started," she said. "She's the real link between staff and parents."

If a teacher has a problem with a student and the parents are Spanish speaking, Novelo is called upon to make the phone call.

"I let them know with a smile," Novelo said.

In 2006, Neighborhood Church adopted Houston school because the congregation wanted to make a difference in the community, said Stephanie Bartsch, associate pastor.

With support from the church and Bartsch, Novelo organizes Juntos, a volunteer group of parents of Houston students since 2011. Under the nonprofit umbrella of the church, Juntos raises money for special events, field trips and a park next to the school.

Each Friday, 15 women in Juntos come to school to do projects for teachers such as staple papers together or laminate pages.

"You name it, we do it," Novelo said. "Anything to help the teachers."

Afterward, they have their own potluck including homemade tortillas.

"That's when the real fun begins," Novelo said.

They plan monthly movie nights at the school or bingo. Players vie for coveted prizes collected throughout the month by parents. Community members attend bingo as well, often buying several boards.

The goal is to get families involved, she said.

Service projects

Novelo also helps organize monthly community service projects such as Make A Difference Day Oct. 25. Houston students and their parents helped plant trees and shrubs along Packwood Creek and create school gardens at Fairview and Pinkham schools.

"We finished in record time," she said. "It was so much fun."

The volunteer effort was also part of Neighborhood Church's Work for Fun program for Houston students. By volunteering, they earn $5 off a special trip to McDermont Field House in Lindsay. If they help with all three work days this semester, their whole trip is free.

In 2012, they went to Sequoia National Park and, in 2013, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

"We're trying to teach the children to give back to the community," Novelo said.

Sometimes her role at Houston school takes on a more dire need.

For example, a family used all of its money for a down payment on housing. The father came to Novelo Monday and asked for help with food for his children who attend Houston.

In 10 minutes, she raised $115 from teachers and staff, she said. She and another staff member, bought groceries with the money and gave them to the family.

Novelo said it's wonderful to work with families at Houston school because they are so grateful.

This is her fifth year at Houston. Before that, she worked at Pinkham where her own children went to school. She started substituting for the community aid at Houston when her predecessor became ill. Later, Novelo was offered her job.

There was more of a need at Houston, so she took the job there, she said.